1981 - 1982
Mark Fletcher builds an accounting system for newsagents on his kitchen table. Nothing like it exists in Australia. Tower Systems takes on its first employee in 1982.
1993 - 1994
We hire our first professional accountant. The financial reporting in the software improves as a result. In 1994 we release our first Point of Sale system, giving retailers proper control over their operations.
1996
We buy Forest Hill Newsagency to put our team inside a real Australian retail store. Everyone works in it.
1997
The first EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) trials connect our software directly to supplier systems, cutting hours of manual paperwork for customers.
1998 - 2000
We release Point of Sale software for Windows. Most competitors are still on DOS. In 2000 we acquire RED Software, adding jewellery and bike retailers to our customer base.
2001 - 2002
We reach an exclusive agreement with Avanti Bikes, making our software the preferred choice for every Avanti dealer in Australia and New Zealand. In 2002 we cut support fees by 15% to 25%.
2003
We buy the third floor of a professional office building in Melbourne for our new headquarters.
2004
We grow the development team to build software specifically for jewellers and gift shops. Three major updates go out across each market.
2005
We form a creative team to handle marketing for and with independent retailers and add electronic voucher products to the POS software.
2006
Major updates push our electronic voucher range to hundreds of products, all purchasable directly from the register.
2007
We extend support to six days a week plus after-hours. In several of our markets, no other software company does this.
2008
We launch the Tower Training Academy — up to 300 online workshops a year for newsagents, gift shop owners, and jewellers across Australia, delivered via WebEx.
2009
Electronic vouchers grow to more than 200 products inside the POS software. We run more than 130 user meetings across Australia and move to new offices in Hawthorn.
We launch Software Ideas, a platform where customers suggest and vote on software changes. It remains a genuine point of difference for us.
2012
We build specialist software for pet shops. Windows 8 improves the Tower Systems tablet experience.
2013
Discount Voucher functionality goes through in-store testing then ships fully. It changes how thousands of stores handle customer loyalty.
2014
We achieve National Measurement Approval for Fuel Integration using POSTEC forecourt controllers, release specialist software for toy shops, add PayPal integration, and become a certified Xero Partner.
2015
Development begins on Permit to Acquire functionality for firearms retailers.
2017
We release cloud-based tools so retailers can manage their business from anywhere.
2018
We expand our web development resources, producing websites for independent retailers and retail groups.
2019
Visual Deck ships — a business intelligence tool that lets owners check store performance without being there.
Retailer Roam™ launches alongside it: a remote POS app that syncs with store data and supports selling from markets, trucks, or car boo
2019
Retailer Roam™ We released the initial version of our remote POS app that enables selling from anywhere, any time, with sync with the retail business data. Ideal for truck, market and car boot selling.
2020
Retailer version 3 ships. A full visual and technical reset — new language, database changes, redesigned UX. It takes years to build.
2021
We rewrite core modules based on customer feedback and what we observe changing across the retail channels we serve. That work is ongoing.
We also rebuild the Software Ideas platform to keep customer engagement sharp and the platform doing what it was built for.
2023
ChatGPT integration lands in the POS software, letting retailers generate product descriptions without writing them from scratch.
An international barcode database lookup speeds up new product setup and cuts data entry errors.
A self-checkout solution launches for independent retailers — built with real stores, for shopfloors where customers are spread out or not prepared to queue.
2024
Enhanced self-checkout ships, along with better supplier integrations, upgraded quote and invoice management, smarter business insights, and remote management tools that work across devices.
2025
AI tools expand further. Retailers can import supplier invoices from PDFs automatically, generate publish-ready product blog posts, and run local price comparisons inside the software.
2026
We launched a new series of free customer workshops on topics of practical value to local small business retailers.
Further AI tools were delivered across the software.
We released a new debtors dashboard, giving retailers clearer visibility of outstanding accounts. We also released a fuel surcharge facility, helping retailers recover higher fuel delivery costs at the point of sale.
